Steps to Select the Right Barcode Software



    Barcoding can save time, money and frustration in any circumstance where things need to be tracked or easily identified. Step by step guide to select the best barcode label printing software for your business.


Whether you're planning to use barcodes to track inventory, track documents, identify container contents or track time on projects, it's relatively easy to start using barcodes with your small business.

Barcode printing software allows consumers not only print professional barcode labels for their products, in an effort to be more competitive, but also to provide a pleasant-to-use database connection to organize a company's products. Now anyone with an inexpensive inkjet or LaserJet printer can print labels for products to be sold over the web or displayed in traditional brick-and-mortar stores, making these products manufactured by smaller companies more attractive to mass consumption. In virtually every business, the implementation of inexpensive barcode making software will likely generate substantial increases in both revenues and product interest.

Step 1: Shortlist Your Requirements
You first need to decide what kind of barcode printing software would be suitable for you. Do you need to connect it to your database? Do you need to exports labels to images? Do you need to import label templates? What kind labels you need, 1-D or 2-D? You need a stand-alone version or network version?

If you are just using barcodes to track items and information in house and have no need for other businesses or retailers to be able to read and identify the barcode, then implementing barcodes is extremely easy. Using a low-cost barcode generator and labeling program, you can generate barcodes on any computer and print them on standard labels that can be purchased at any office supply store.

However, if you are adding barcodes to products that will be distributed to and sold by retailers, or other companies will need to be able to read and process your barcodes, the process is a little trickier. In this case you will need a unique USP or EAN barcode number. These 12 or 13 digit numbers are used throughout the world as a universal system of barcoding. You can't generate these numbers on your own, because they need to be globally unique and adhere to specific protocols. You will need to use a barcode generating service to get a barcode number. Many of these services can be found online and charge less than $100 per barcode number.

Step 2: Decide Upon Your Budget
You need to decide how much you intend to spend on this barcode printing system. The price can range from $19 to $299 or even higher depending on features. Just select a software that can satisfy your requirements. You do not need to pay for the features you will never use at all.

Step 3: Compare Different Options Available
Once you shortlist your favorite options that suit your requirement then it is a good idea to compare all the features offered by each software. This would help you to narrow down your list to two -three good software.

Step 4: Trial Version
Download the trial versions or ask your local vendor to give you the CDs to test software. You should be pretty familiar with the software before you make any serious purchase. Simple jobs like creating a check design should be as simple as possible.

Step 5: Make a Purchase
Once you decide upon your favorite software and get familiar with it, you can think about making a purchase.

Tips:
Try before you buy - Choose software with most comfortable graphical interface. It should be easy to navigate and handle. And you also need to make sure it works with your current PC and printer.